Deanna Lynne Vanderburg Armour

Our beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with Cancer and CHF at St. Mary Medical Center, in the arms of her beloved children, on March 7, 2022.

Deanna was born in Biloxi, MS, at Keesler Air Force Base on October 10, 1954, to Gary and Daisy (Carson) Vanderburg. The family then followed her father’s job with IBM to Marysville, CA, and on to Lake Oswego, OR, before settling in Walla Walla.

Deanna graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1972. She was a part of the 1970 Junior ROTC small-bore women’s rifle team that took 2nd place overall, bringing home several trophies from the 8th annual Reno, NV match. Deanna also individually brought home several trophies for her marksmanship during her participation in the JROTC and Walla Walla Gun clubs.

Deanna was an impressive seamstress, sewing most of her daughter’s clothes, hemming the family’s pants, and creating several other household goods. She loved to turn on Bonanza, or any other spaghetti western, for background noise and lose herself in her work. She was an avid gardener, never afraid to attempt to grow anything. However, her love of house plants trumps all others. She loved being in the kitchen cooking up anything from venison liver and onions to her delicious cottage cheese cookies.

Most of all, Deanna loved with her whole heart. She loved her family, classic rock, reading, card games, and socializing. She taught her children about love, compassion, and how to care for others. She never had a negative thing to say about anyone and always found the best in people. She helped others in any way she was able to, from helping them to the grocery store to making food for the freezer, from cleaning their home to lending an ear. She truly was an angel on earth.

Deanna is preceded in death by her mother, Daisy Vanderburg, and brother-in-law, Roger McGraw. She is survived by her father, Gary Vanderburg of Walla Walla, WA, sister Cynthia McGraw of Siletz, OR, children Joel (Peggy) Schneidmiller of Cheney, WA, daughter Katie (Sean) Larson of Kennewick, WA, and son Gary (Becki) Schneidmiller of Walla Walla, WA, grandchildren Zakkari Lott of Walla Walla, WA, Zoie Schneidmiller of Moscow, ID, Zaedyn Schneidmiller of Clarkston, WA, Wade Schneidmiller of Cheney, WA, Lane Wheeler of Kennewick, WA, Dylan Wheeler of Kennewick, WA, and Allie Schneidmiller of Walla Walla, WA.

Enjoy your walks on the beach, Mom. Say hi to Grandma for us and make sure we all behave by watching over us.

Donations may be made to the Blue Mountain Humane Society through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St., Walla Walla, WA 99362.